Toyota Tj Cruiser concept – roomy SUV or tough van?

Is it an SUV or a van? That's what you're supposed to wonder when you first set eyes on Toyota's Tj Cruiser concept. The answer, according to the automaker, is that the four-passenger vehicle "represents the harmonious balance between the roominess of a cargo van and the powerful design of an SUV."

Among the Tj's van-like features are front and rear passenger seats that can be reclined totally flat, allowing objects up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long to be stored inside – these could include surfboards or bikes.

Large sliding side doors, along with a wide rear opening, make for easy loading and unloading of such items. To keep them from shifting around in transit, there are numerous tie-down points on the backs of the seats.

If you just have a few grocery bags or other smaller things to stow, the seat cushion on the passenger seat behind the driver can be flipped towards the front, creating a dedicated space for such cargo.

SUV-wise, the Tj has a "sturdy suspension realized by large SUV-sized tires," along with the ability to switch between front- and four-wheel drive. It also has a scratch-resistant hood, roof and fenders … plus, of course, it looks mean and off-roady.

Not much has been provided in the way of technical details. That said, Toyota does state that the vehicle would run on a 2.0-liter class engine + hybrid system, and that it would likely utilize the company's Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.

There's no word yet on whether the Tj will ever make it to production. In the meantime, if you want to at least see the concept vehicle in real life, you can do so when it's on display at the Tokyo Motor Show from Oct. 25th to Nov. 5th.

Oh, and in case you're wondering … "Tj" stands for "toolbox" and "joy."